Disk of Mictlāntēcutli

The Disk of Mictlāntēcutli (Nahuatl: [mik.t͡ɬaːn.ˈteːkʷ.t͡ɬi] ⓘ), otherwise known as the Disk of Death, is a pre-Hispanic sculpture depicting Mictlāntēcutli, the Aztec god of death and ruler of Mictlān, the underworld of Aztec mythology.[1] Archaeologists found the artwork in Teotihuacan's Pyramid of the Sun in 1963. The basaltic rock disk is partly destroyed. The sculpture features a skull with the tongue out and is surrounded by a pleated paper headdress.

Disk of Mictlāntēcutli
El Disco de la Muerte
MaterialBasalt
Height126 cm (50 in)[1]
Width102 cm (40 in)[1]
Discovered1963
Teotihuacan
Discovered byArchaeologists
Present locationNational Museum of Anthropology
CultureAztec

For the Aztecs, Teotihuacan was the place where the Fifth Sun was born. They conducted pilgrimages from Tenochtitlan to honor the city and leave gifts, which included the disk. The meaning of the sculpture is uncertain, although archaeologists do not rule out the possibility that it alludes to sun death or human sacrifice.[2]

The piece is on display at Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology in the Teotihuacan exhibition.[2]

References
  1. Enger, Reed (14 October 2019). "Disk of Mictlantecuhtli". Obelisk Art History. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  2. "Pieza del mes: Disco de la muerte" [Piece of the month: Disk of Death] (PDF). Agenda Cultural del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (in Spanish). National Museum of Anthropology: 29. March 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2023.


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